Fuji 1.7 Absolute Now On Sale!

[Mr. McGibblets]

I have been in the market for a beginner road bike for a few weeks now, and I narrowed it down to the Trek 7.2 FX or the Fuji Absolute 1.7. I went and test drove both, and I personally liked the Fuji Absolute. The bike is normally >$600, was "on sale" at Performance Bikes for $499, but they are having a huge sale, discounting the bike further at $450. Just wanted to pass this along to anyone interested in purchasing a new bike as a beginner - I hear great things and I am excited to go get mine this weekend!

[2Birds1Stone]

My advice to all of my friends looking at getting into biking, be it mountain or road.

Get properly sized at a professional bike shop.

Purchase a used bike on craigslist for 20 to 50 cents on the dollar.

[GuitarStv]

Anyone looking at the Trek 7.2 should also considered the Specialized Cirrus or Giant Escape.  They're all very similar bikes.  It's easier to find used bikes when you have a variety of similar models that you're looking for too . . .

[Hvillian]

I have been in the market for a beginner road bike for a few weeks now, and I narrowed it down to the Trek 7.2 FX or the Fuji Absolute 1.7. I went and test drove both, and I personally liked the Fuji Absolute. The bike is normally >$600, was "on sale" at Performance Bikes for $499, but they are having a huge sale, discounting the bike further at $450. Just wanted to pass this along to anyone interested in purchasing a new bike as a beginner - I hear great things and I am excited to go get mine this weekend!

Are you sure you don't want to try an actual road bike, instead of a commuter/fitness hybrid?

I bought a pair used Trek FX bikes for the wife and I, and while I really like riding to work or with the kids, we both ended up wanting bikes with more road bike features (smaller tires, drop bars, etc.) pretty shortly.  Just my two cents, based on your statement that you were looking for a beginner road bike.  Regardless of what you get, I hope you ride a lot and enjoy.

[Chris22]

My advice to all of my friends looking at getting into biking, be it mountain or road.

Get properly sized at a professional bike shop.

Purchase a used bike on craigslist for 20 to 50 cents on the dollar.

That's kind of a dick move.  It's one thing to try it out at Best Buy and buy from Amazon, but to patronize and waste the time of a small business and then buy from someone else, especially on purpose, that's not cool.

[2Birds1Stone]

Meh, to each his own. You could still bring that used bike to them for a tune up ;)

[WildJager]

My advice to all of my friends looking at getting into biking, be it mountain or road.

Get properly sized at a professional bike shop.

Purchase a used bike on craigslist for 20 to 50 cents on the dollar.

That's kind of a dick move.  It's one thing to try it out at Best Buy and buy from Amazon, but to patronize and waste the time of a small business and then buy from someone else, especially on purpose, that's not cool.

You could offer to pay for the sizing service.  I'm sure they would appreciate your candor.

[Mr. McGibblets]

My advice to all of my friends looking at getting into biking, be it mountain or road.

Get properly sized at a professional bike shop.

Purchase a used bike on craigslist for 20 to 50 cents on the dollar.

That's kind of a dick move.  It's one thing to try it out at Best Buy and buy from Amazon, but to patronize and waste the time of a small business and then buy from someone else, especially on purpose, that's not cool.

My commute to work is pretty short, and I don't expect to use it for much else other than commuting. If that does happen in the next few years, I wouldn't mind getting another bike and selling this one or keeping it as a spare.

I was hounding CL for a few weeks and saw some good bikes on there - but the sizing was an issue. I'd rather spend a little extra at a bike shop to get sized and test drive rather than roll the dice on a "refurbished" bike. Never know what issues those used bikes for sale have either.

[Faraday]

I have been in the market for a beginner road bike for a few weeks now, and I narrowed it down to the Trek 7.2 FX or the Fuji Absolute 1.7. I went and test drove both, and I personally liked the Fuji Absolute. The bike is normally >$600, was "on sale" at Performance Bikes for $499, but they are having a huge sale, discounting the bike further at $450. Just wanted to pass this along to anyone interested in purchasing a new bike as a beginner - I hear great things and I am excited to go get mine this weekend!

I've watched the Fuji Absolute for several years and on that type of bike, right now is about as cheap as it gets. What Performance tends to do is have their biggest, best discounts the week of July 4th, then from there on out, the stock goes to crap and the prices dribble back upward until the cycle repeats the next model year.

BTW: When I bought, it was a Raleigh Cadent i8. Very similar "flat bar road bike" to the Absolute line but it has the internal Shimano geared hub and only a single crank sprocket (no front derailleur). It's a slower-running bike than the Absolute, but great for bad weather riding.

[act0fgod]

My advice to all of my friends looking at getting into biking, be it mountain or road.

Get properly sized at a professional bike shop.

Purchase a used bike on craigslist for 20 to 50 cents on the dollar.

That's kind of a dick move.  It's one thing to try it out at Best Buy and buy from Amazon, but to patronize and waste the time of a small business and then buy from someone else, especially on purpose, that's not cool.

You could offer to pay for the sizing service.  I'm sure they would appreciate your candor.

A professional fitting isn't free.  You're looking at a $100-$500 and at a minimum an hour long appointment.  It's not like going to a shoe store and having them check the size of your foot.

If we're talking about a guy/girl at a bike shop looking at you and saying you should ride a 56cm bike that's going to be free and is worth just a tiny bit more than what you're paying for it.

[GuitarStv]

Nobody needs a 'professional fitting' to get a bike that fits.  You need someone to eyeball you on a bike for a couple seconds and tell you if things are way off or not.  Making small adjustments over a few months as you ride it will fine tune the bike fit perfectly.